Boat anchor



June 4, 1940. J. F. HOTTEL 2,202,856

BOAT ANCHOR Fii led Dec. 24, 1958 gwuwnio a Jams-EJ107121.

Patented June 4, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE (Granted under the actof March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) Theinvention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for theGovernment of the United States for governmental purposes withoutpayment to me of any royalty thereon in accordance with the provisionsof the act of April 30, 1928 (Ch. 406, 45 Stat. L. 467) This inventionpertains to boat anchors. Objects of the invention are to provide anon-fouling, light-weight, simple, practicable and efficient, as well aseconomical boat anchor incorporating features whereby its compactnessfor stowing purposes make the same of particular desirability.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out and become apparentin the following specification and accompanying drawing illustrating apractical embodiment of the invention and by which the same may bepracticed.

Fig 1 of the drawing illustrates a perspective of an en: diment in anopen and operable position, while L118 elevational view in Fig. 2illustrates the same in closed position most suitable for stowage.

Broadly, my invention comprises an anchor, the shank of which consistsof a pair of angular related beams positioned substantially in a commonplane and arms extending therefrom adapted to support earth engagingflukes. The flukecarrying arms extend in substantially oppositedirections from the beams, and are disposed in angular relation to thecommon plane of the beams.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated the shank of the anchorcomprises a pair of beams ill and H. These beams are coupled together atone end in a manner whereby the angular relation of one with respect tothe other may be varied. To provide this adjustability the beams may behingedly coupled or coupled, as shown, by a swivel bolt or pin l 2,which pin may also serve as a suitable means for the attachment of aclevis or ring to which the anchor rope may be secured.

In the embodiment shown, the shank beams HI and H are cross sectionallyT-shaped and in the use of T-beams a number of advantages and desirablefeatures are provided. Such beams possess a maximum or at least anadequate strength for the purpose, since the legs l4 and I5 of the Tsserve as reinforcements. Furthermore, beams of this design may beconventionally swiveled back to back, or in other words, with the headportions l6 and ll of the beams face to face, whereby in the angularadjustment of the beams the same act in a scissor-like manner; By thisarrangement the overlapping fiat surfaces of the head portions It and I!of the beams support each other against torsional strain anddisplacement. Portions of .the legs M and i5 may be cut away as at E8 onthe swiveled ends of the beams in order that a hole for the swivel pinl2 may be disposed centrally through the head portions I6 and l! of thebeams, or on the axis of the legs Hi and i5. Portions of the heads l6and I! may be cut away on the ends opposite their swiveled ends toprovide shoulders 20 and 2| in- Wardly of the projecting ends 22 and 23of the leg portions I 4 and l 5 for purposes to be describedhereinafter.

Means are provided to fix the beams iii and 'II in closed juxtapositionand opened at predetermined angles with respect to each other. Theserelative positions may be suitably maintained by the provision ofear-like members 24-45 and 2S-2'l, projecting reversely from therespective edges of the head portions I6 and l 'l of the beams I!) andH, which ears are provided with means for cooperatively securing theoverlapping ears of the respective pairs in fixed predeterminedpositions. For this purpose one or more holes 28 are provided in theears 24-25 and 2B-2'l 25 suitable to receive bolts or pins 29. Theseholes Ell are arranged in a manner whereby those through the ears 25-26will coincide or register with each other when the beams are spread inthe direction shown in Fig. 1. Likewise the holes 0 through the ears 24and 2'! are arranged to register with each other should the beams bespread in the opposite direction. The holes 28 are also arranged in amanner whereby those through the ears 2 and 25 will register with thosethrough 5 the cars 28 and 27 when the beams are in, closed position asshown in Fig. 2.

The nukes 3i) and ti of the anchor are carried on arms 32 and 33, whicharms are hingedly or pivotally connected to the free ends of the beams 0i9 and ii in a manner whereby they may be moved to predetermined openedpositions in a direction angularly with respect to the plain throughwhich the shank beams l!) and It may be moved. 5 The fluke arms mayconsist of square bar material, or any other suitable bars, worked andbent to shape. preferably with an elbow intermediate the ends toproperly position the fiukes.

The top of the flukes may be, as shown, crowned to prevent fouling andare preferably shovel shaped or concave to increase their holdingeffects. They may also be sharpened and formed with a pointed pea toincrease their digging effects. These fiukes are welded or otherwisesecured to one end of the fluke arms with their peas foremost. The flukearms may be connected to the free ends of the shank beams in anysuitable manner which will afford angular adjustments of the arms withrespect to the shank beams in a direction substantially normal to theplain through which the shank beams are angularly adjustable. A strengthgiving and strain relieving manner of adjustably connecting the arms tothe shank beams is illustrated in the drawing wherein it will be seenthat the ends of the fluke arms are slotted or bifurcated and straddlethe end portions 22 and 23 of the legs 14 and E5 of the shank beams.Holes are provided in the forked portions of the fiuke arms and in theprojecting leg portions 22 and 23 whereby bolts, pins or pivots. 34 and35 may be passed therethrough to hingedly connect the arms to the beams.The holes through the forked portions of the fluke arms and theprojections 22 and 23 should be so arranged as to allow the ends of theforked portions to abut the shoulders 2t and 2i, formed by the cut backends of the head portions 56 and l'l of the shank beams, serving asmeans for bracing the arms when in fully open position and also forlimiting the opening of the arms beyond a most effective angle for theflukes.

To maintain the flukes in predetermined angular positions with respectto the shank beams, arm or lip portions 36 and 3'1, which may also bereferred to as quadrant plates, may also be provided extending from theleg portions I 3 and 15 of the beams through the fork provided in theends of the fluke arms 32 and 33 and having stops 3% and 39 whichprevent the fluke arms from being opened beyond a predeterminedposition. To retain the arms 32 and 33 either in open position inabutment with the stops 38 and 39, or in closed position whereby thepeas of the fiukes rest against the leg portions it and i5 of the beams,the members 355 and 31 are provided with a series of openings throughwhich pins or bolts 30 and ii may be passed.

The members 353 and 37 assist to relieve the fluke arms and the pins 34and 35 of the torsional strain by being passed through the crotch of theforked portions of the fluke arms.

In the construction of smaller anchors either the members 35 and 3'1 orthe abutting features of the shoulders 25 and 2| may be omitted. Againin the smaller type of anchors it is within the scope of my invention toomit both of the features just described for preventing the fluke armsfrom opening beyond predetermined angles with respect to the shank beamsand utilize any suitable tying or bracing members capable of sustainingthe tension or compression tending to vary predetermined angles betweenthe fluke arms and the shank beams. Such tying or bracing members mayalso be substituted for the ear-like members 2 i25 and 282? in thesmaller type of anchors.

By this arrangement it will be seen that I provide an anchor which, whenfolded as shown in Fig. 2, is free of all projecting arms, prongs, etc.,invariably causing entanglements with anchor ropes and provide an anchorwhich may be folded into a compact unit requiring very little storagespace as compared with conventional anchors which are fixed in openposition.

In preparing the closed anchor, as shown in Fig. 2, for launching, thepins or bolts 30 and M are withdrawn from behind the fluke arms, thearms opened into abutment with the stops, and the pins 46 and GIreinserted in front of the fluke arms to hold them open and in abutmentwith the stops. The pins 29 holding the shank arms in juxtaposition arethen removed, the shank arms spread to predetermined positions, and thepins 29 passed through any coinciding holes 28 through the overlappingears.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I provide an anchor with maximumholding properties and so designed as to normally fall clear with one ofthe fluke arms in position to dig in irrespective of which way theanchor may fall. The design of the anchor is also such that should theline foul in letting go the first strain will capsize and clear theanchor, bringing it into proper position. If the anchor lands as shownin Fig. 1 the fluke 3! is automatically in position for engagement withthe earth and if the anchor should land in the reverse position thefluke 30 would be in the position in which the fluke 3| is now shown.Again, if the anchor should land with the fluke arm 32 horizontally withrespect to the surface of the earth the overbalancing weight of theangularly disposed other arm 33 will cause the anchor to topple overinto a position such as is shown in Fig. 1 whereby it will immediatelydig in by its falling force, by its own weight or upon the least towing.

I claim:

1. A foldable anchor comprising a pair of beams swiveled shearinglyadjustable one past the other from superimposed parallel positions topredetermined angles, means for releasably maintaining said beams at anyone of a plurality of angles with respect to each other, arm-likemembers swivelly mounted one to each beam, means for releasablymaintaining predetermined angles between said arm-like members and therespective beams, and fiukes fixed to the respective armlike members.

2. A ioldable anchor comprising a pair of beams swiveled scissor like inan overlapping manner to relieve each other of torsional strain, meansfor releasably maintaining predetermined angles between said beams, apair of fluke-provided arms swiveled respectively one to each free endof said beams, and means for releasably maintaining predetermined anglesbetween said arms and the respective beams.

3. A ioldable anchor comprising scissorbeams each having a single flukehinged to the free ends thereof, means for releasably maintaining saidbeams at predetermined angles to each other, and means for releasablymaintaining said flukes at predetermined opposing angles to the beams towhich they are respectively hinged.

4.. A collapsible anchor comprising a plurality of superimposedlyoverlapping beams coupled together at one end in a manner whereby theangle between the beams may be varied while maintaining at least apartial overlapping relation tending to relieve said beams of torsionalstrain, means for releasably maintaining predetermined angular positionsof the beams with respect to each other, flukes coupled to the free endsof said beams in a manner whereby the angle between the fiukes and theirrespective beams may be varied, and means for releasably maintainingpredetermined angular positions of the flukes with respect to theirrespective beams.

5. A collapsible anchor comprising a pair of T-beams coupled togetherface to face at one end thereof in a manner whereby the angle betweenthe beams may be varied, earlike members projecting from the edges ofsaid beams, means for releasably securing an ear-like member of one beamto an ear-like member of the other beam for releasably maintainingpredetermined positions of one beam with respect to the other, a pair offluke-provided arms each having a bifurcated end to receive a leg of oneof said T-beams, means coupling said arms to said T-beams in a mannerwhereby the angle between said arms and beams may be varied, 'tonguelike members projecting from the legs of said T-beams and passingthrough said arms, and means associated with said tongue-like membersfor releasably maintaining predetermined angular positions of said armswith respect to said beams.

6. A collapsible anchor comprising a plurality of beams coupled togetherat one end in a manner whereby the angle between the beams may bevaried, said beams having a reinforcing flange disposed longitudinallyalong one face thereof,

ear-like members projecting from the edges of,

said beams, means for releasably securing an earlike member of one beamto an ear-1ike member of another beam for releasably maintainingpredetermined angularities of one beam with respect to another, arm-likemembers each having a bifurcated end portion to receive one of saidreinforcing flanges, means hingedly connecting said bifurcated armportions to said beam reinforcing flanges, tongue-like membersprojecting from said flanges through the bifurcated portions of saidarms, means associated with said tongue-like members for releasablymaintaining angular positions of said arms with respect to said beams,and fiukes secured to said arm-like members.

'7. An anchor comprising a pair of beams swiveled face to face andseparable at one end substantially in a common plane to regularlyrelated positions, arms adapted to support earth engaging flukeshingedly attached to the separable ends of said beams, said armsextending one from each of said beams in substantially oppositedirections, and means releasably maintaining said arms, disposed inangular relation to said common plane.

8. An anchor comprising a pair of swiveled beams angularly separable atone end substantially in a common plane, arms adapted to support earthengaging flukcs, secured hingedly one to each of said beams, means forreleasably maintaining said arms in extended positions substantiallyopposite from said beams and in angular relation to said common plane,and means tending to relieve the fluke arms of tortional stresses anddisplacement.

9. An anchor comprising a pair of beams disposed in adjustable angularrelation, said beams having overlapping contacting portions tending torelieve each other of torsional strain, earth engaging means, said meanscomprising arm-s having flukes carried thereby, the arms being disposedin adjustable angular relation with respect to and carried by saidbeams, and means for limiting the angular relation between said arms andbeams.

JAMES F. HOTTEL.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No, 2,202,856. v June l 191m.

I JAMES F. HOTTEL. It is hereby certified that error appears in theprinted specification of the abovennmpere d patent requiring correctionas follows: Page 1, first column, line 6, for "9h. 11.06" read --Ch.1160- pagefi ,second column, line 5, claim'i, for the word Pregmilarly"read --angularly-; and thatthe said Letters'Patent should be read withthis 'correction therein that the same may conform to the record'of thecasein the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this. 91:11 day of July, A. D. 19L o.

Hem-3 Vgnhrsdale, I (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

